🐕👮♀️ Put-in-Bay: New chief, old ghosts and a 2.4-mile transfer
Plus a dog and a fundraiser
PUT-IN-BAY — There is a new hand on the tiller at the Put-in-Bay Village Police Department, but the crew he’s inheriting comes with some heavy baggage.
On January 30, 2026, Mike Dillon was officially sworn in as the Village’s new Police Chief. A veteran with over 24 years of experience from Whitehall and Pataskala (in the Columbus area), Dillon is being hailed as the “steady hand” needed to rebuild community trust. However, as he steps into his office at the Town Hall, he finds himself overseeing a roster that includes two of the most controversial names in Ottawa County law enforcement.
When interviewed earlier this month, Dillon seemed fully aware of the challenges he accepted and was committed to moving the department forward.
